Electro-hydraulic jack

ABSTRACT

A jack intended for use with automobiles including a compact, easily positioned jack assembly, a hydraulic power unit connected to the jack assembly, and means for electrically operating the hydraulic power unit. The jack assembly has a head support that will adapt to use with a bumper or that will provide a ram head to be used under axles and the like.

United States Patent 1191 Millar 1 51 Nov. 11, 1975 1 1 ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC JACK [76] Inventor: Daniel J. Millar, 308 Sidney St..

Rock Springs, Wyo. 82901 [22] Filed: Jan. 9, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 431,675

[52] US. Cl. 254/93 R; 417/415 [51] Int. Cl. B66F 3/24 [58] Field of Search 254/93 R, 93 H, 93 HP, 254/133, 134, 2 R, 2 CB, 98, 100, DIG. 4; 417/415; 60/477, 480; 248/357 I [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.044.194 11/1912 Kurtz 254/134 1.056.511 3/1913 Desmond 417/415 1.325.962 12/1919 Temp1eton..... 254/DIG. 4 1.969.408 8/1934 Kramer et a1 254/93 H 2.031.700 2/1936 Fiedlcr 254/93 H 2.034.605 3/1936 Carman 254/93 H 2.420.910 5/1947 Richards 254/93 H 2,600,750 6/1952 Gaudet et a1. 417/415 2.927.769 3/1960 Fantaci 254/93 H 3.622.124 11/1971 Sidles 254/93 R Primary E.\'uminerothell M. Simpson Attorney. Agent, or FirmC riddle & Thorpe [5 7 ABSTRACT A jack intended for use with automobiles including a compact, easily positioned jack assembly, a hydraulic power unit connected to the jack assembly, and means for electrically operating the hydraulic power unit. The jack assembly has a head support that will adapt to use with a bumper or that will provide a ram head to be used under axles and the like.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 FIG 4 FIG 3 ELECTRO-IIYDRAULIC JACK BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to jacks and particularly to jacks used with automobiles.

2. Prior Art The need for a jack that does not require manual operation and that can even be operated by handicapped persons, women and others, without a great deal of physical exertion, has long been recognized.

U.S. Pats. Nos. 1,969,408, 2,034,605 and 2,420,9l0, for example, all show jacks that are hydraulically and electrically powered, with the control for a hydraulic pump being provided through an electrical connection to a vehicle battery or other such electrical power source.

While these aforementioned prior art patents do show electro-hydraulic jack units, they have not, to my knowledge, come into common usage. It would appear that there has not heretofore been available a jack that can be conveniently used, since in the prior units it is necessary that a housing containing electric motor,- hydraulic pump and all of the control structures therefore be moved from place to place in positioning the units for use. Also, none of the aforementioned patents disclose means for alternatively using the jacks disclosed either as bumper jacks or as axle jacks in the lifting of vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Principal objects of the present invention are to provide a jack arranged to have a relatively lightweight, easily positioned jack assembly that is used to actually lift a vehicle; a power unit, including pump, hydraulic reservoir, and electric motor that is remote from, but hydraulically connected to the jack assembly; and long connector means to connect the electric motor to the vehicle battery or other suitable energy source.

Principal features of the invention include a telescoping jack assembly having a jack head that can be pivoted between a bumper engaging position and a ram position, and a power unit contained within a housing.

The power unit comprises an electric motor, a hydraulic reservoir, and a hydraulic pump within the reservoir and powered by the electric motor.

The jack assembly is connected to the power. unit through flexible hydraulic hoses and is conveniently stored within the power unit housing when not in use.

Additional objects and features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and claims, taken with the accompanying drawings.

THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention as used with a vehicle;

FIG. 2, a view showing the power unit of the invention in vertical section (the storage position of the jack assembly being shown in phantom) and with the jack assembly shown in side elevation, connected to the power unit;

FIG. 3, a horizontal section, taken on line 33 of FIG. 2, showing the gearing between electric motor and pump; and

FIG. 4, an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the jack head, as taken within line 4-4 of FIG. 2, and with the alternate positions of the jack head shown in solid and dotted lines, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings:

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the jack of the invention, shown generally at 10, FIG. 2, comprises a jack assembly 11 and a power unit 12. The jack assembly 11 includes a telescoping body 13 (which may be constructed like the telescoping body shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,969,408, for example) and that has a ram 14 as the most extended member when the body 13 is telescop ed. The body 13 is supported on an enlarged platform base 13a. Ram 14 has a jack head 15 pivotally connected by a pivot pin 16 that extends through spaced flanges 18 on the end of the ram and through one end of the head. The head 15 is made of flat stock and is of generally S-shape and is connected to the ram such that when it is positioned to extend above the ram one curve 15a of the head projects above the bearing surface 14a and the other curve 15b rests on the bearing surface. The curve portion 15a can then be used as a bearing surface and to provide an overall length increase to the jack assembly. Under certain jacking conditions, such extended height is necessary or desirable to insure proper lifting of a vehicle.

In its alternate position the jack head is pivoted off the bearing surface 14a and hangs downwardly alongside the ram. Curve 15a is then low and will conveniently accommodate a vehicle bumper and curve 15b extends upwardly from curve 15a to hold the bumper in place.

Hydraulic fluid under pressure is supplied to the bottom ofjack assembly 11 through a flexible hose 17 that is connected to a oneway check valve 17a at the inlet to the housing. A quickdisconnect valved coupling 19 allows the hose to be readily disconnected. Discharge of fluid from the assembly 11 is through a manually controlled valve 20 at the housing outlet and through a flexible hose 21 that is connected thereto by a quick disconnect valved coupling 22. Oil 23 is supplied to the jack assembly 11 from a reservoir 24 formed in the lower part of a housing 25 of the power unit 12.

A partition 26, separates the reservoir 24 from an upper compartment 27 in the housing 25, and an electric motor 28 is fixed in position in the compartment. The drive of the motor 28 is connected to a shaft 29 that extends through partition 26 and through an oil seal 30a, bearing 30b on the underside of the partition, through reservoir 24 and into a bearing 31 on the bottom of the housing 25.

A spur gear 32 is fixed to shaft 29 near the bottom of reservoir 24 and rotation of shaft 29, in response to operation of motor 28, will turn gear 32 and a large internal ring gear 33 that is in mesh with gear 32.

Ring gear 33 has ring-shaped flanges 33a and 33b welded or otherwise affixed to the top and bottom thereof to engage opposite sides of gear 32 so that the ring gear will not move out of mesh with the spur gear 32 and with another spur gear 34 that is fixed to the lower part of the axle of a crank shaft 35. The upper and lower ends of crank shaft 35 are respectively journalled in bearings 36 and 37, fixed to the bottom of partition 26 and the bottom of housing 25.

One end of a link 38 is journalled on the eccentric of crank shaft 35, and the other end of the link has a clevis 39 thereon that is pivotally connected by a pin 40 to an ear 42 that projects from a piston 43.

Piston 43 reciprocates within a sleeve 44 forming a piston cylinder and the sleeve 44 is fixed to and projects inwardly from a wall ofhousing 25.

A fitting 45 extends through the wall of housing 25 centrally of sleeve 44 and the hose 17 is connected to fitting 45. Ports 46 are provided through sleeve 44 so that when piston 43 is moved to its position 'mostremote from fitting 45 oil can flow from reservoir 24 into the piston cylinder. As the piston is moved towards, the fitting 45 the ports 46 are closed off by the piston skirt and the usual piston rings prevent flow past the piston head. Consequently, the oil in the piston cylinder is then forced through fitting 45, conduit 17 and valve 17a into the jack assembly.

With valve closed the jack assembly will be telescopedto move any load placed on or engaged by the jack head. If valve 20 is subsequently opened, the oil will be released from the jack assembly, and back to reservoir 24, through hose 21 and a fitting 41 through the wall of the housing 25, to which flexible hose 21 is connected. A pressure relief valve (not shown) can be provided, if desired, to open and to allow flow through hose 21 when the jack assembly has been fully extended.

In operation, a power line 48 connected to motor 28 is plugged into the cigarette lighter of a vehicle 49, or is otherwise connected to a suitable power source. A switch 50, mounted on the outside of housing and connected in the power line 48, is then actuated to start operation of motor 28. A cord reel 51 is provided in the housing 25 and the line 48 is rolled onto the reel for storage and is pulled off, through housing 25 to be connected to the power source.

An upper portion of housing 25 is open to allow conduits'l7 and 21 to be coiled and stored in the housing on partition 26. The jack assembly, when fully retracted, can'be similarly stowed.

A lid 52 has a lip 52a that extends over portions of the walls of housing 25 to be latched thereto at 53. So arranged, a. handle 54 on the lid can be used to remove the lid when the latch 53 is uncoupled, or when the lid is properly positioned to carry the entire assembly.

end of the filler tube to allow oil level in the reservoir, to be checked. A filter in the cap 57 prevents oil loss through the cap while allowing sufficient airv into the reservoir to prevent any air lock from occurring within the reservoir. 3

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been herein described, it is to be understoodthat the present disclosure is made by way of example and that variations are possible, without departing from the scope of the hereinafter claimed subject matter, which pling said motor to said pump whereby operation of the motor operates said pump to pump said'oil,

said means including a shaft extending through the reservoir and connected to an output of the motor,

a crank shaft having a principal axis extending parallel to the shaft,

gear means interconnecting the shaft and the prin-.

cipal axis of the crank shaft, and g a link pivotally connected to the eccentric of th crank shaft and to a piston of the pump;

flexible conduit means including one-wayvalve' means, interconnecting the pump and the interior of the jack assembly;

flexible conduit means interconnecting the interior of the jack assembly and the reservoir; and

control valve means in the conduit means interconnecting the interior of said jack assembly and said reservoir.

2. An 'electro-hydraulic' jack as in claim 1, wherein the gear means interconnecting the shaft and the principal axis of the crank shaft comprises All bearings and meshing gears, except for bearings 30b and 36 are completely immersed in oil 23. Consequently, the immersed bearings and gears are constantly lubricated and long life can be expected. In addition, there is enough agitation and splash within the reservoir when the motor is operating that the bearings a first spur gear fixed to the shaft; a second spur gear fixed to the principal axis of the crank shaft;

and a ring gear surrounding and in mesh with the first and second spur gears.

the pump comprises a sleeve fixed to and projecting inwardly from a wall I of the housing; I ports in the sleeve; and

a piston mounted to reciprocate in the sleeve.

* l l k 

1. An electro-hydraulic jack comprising a jack assembly having telescoping body sections and a ram adapted to project therefrom as the outermost extending body section, and an enlarged bearing surface on the end of the ram projecting from the body; a power unit including a housing, a reservoir in the housing, oil in the reservoir, a pump in the reservoir, an electric motor in the housing, means coupling said motor to said pump whereby operation of the motor operates said pump to pump said oil, said means including a shaft extending through the reservoir and connected to an output of the motor, a crank shaft having a principal axis extending parallel to the shaft, gear means interconnecting the shaft and the principal axis of the crank shaft, and a link pivotally connected to the eccentric of the crank shaft and to a piston of the pump; flexible conduit means including one-way valve means, interconnecting the pump and the interior of the jack assembly; flexible conduit means interconnecTing the interior of the jack assembly and the reservoir; and control valve means in the conduit means interconnecting the interior of said jack assembly and said reservoir.
 2. An electro-hydraulic jack as in claim 1, wherein the gear means interconnecting the shaft and the principal axis of the crank shaft comprises a first spur gear fixed to the shaft; a second spur gear fixed to the principal axis of the crank shaft; and a ring gear surrounding and in mesh with the first and second spur gears.
 3. An electro-hydraulic jack as in claim 2, wherein the pump comprises a sleeve fixed to and projecting inwardly from a wall of the housing; ports in the sleeve; and a piston mounted to reciprocate in the sleeve. 